Manure-receptacle.



Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 wihauoeo W. H HUNT.

MANURE REGEPTACLE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3,1908.

z a m T o mm mm W 3 s 5 H 5 .T E v @H M m y m Q .n 7 MW W a P warm m i IWILLIAM H. HUNT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MANUBE-RECEPTAGLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 28,- 1909.

Application filed June 3, 1908. Serial No. 436,458. 7

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. HUNT, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State ofNew York, have invented 10 to provide a novel and useful article forreceiving and retaining the manure of horses and other animals whileharnessed to vehicles, and thus preventing it from soiling or litteringthe streets, roads or highways or any ground over which the animalstravel;

and it is designed also to provide an easy, quick and practical means bywhich such device may be attached to any vehicle and as quickly andconveniently removed for emptying, cleaning and replacing the same withthe least possible trouble.

The invention is further designed to provide a construction by which thereceptacle may be attached to a horse and vehicle in such a manner thatthe greater portion of the weight of the receptacle and its contentswill be supported from the vehicle and the animal relieved therefrom,and so that the receptacle will be at all times maintained in properposition and prevented from annoying or interfering in any way with thelegs or other parts of the body of the animal.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing, in which igure 1 is a perspectiveview of the device as supported in position for use. Fig.

2 is a longitudinal section through the receptacle. Fig. 3 is a verticaltransverse section through the center of the receptacle. Fig. 4 is adetail showing the construction and arrangement of one of the suspensionchains. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the application of theinvention.

My invention consists of a metal receptacle A preferably cylindrical inform, hollow and smooth inside and of suitable size for the 5 purposefor which it is required or intended.

One end of this receptacle may be permanently closed, or have either apermanent or removable cap or cover B. The other end of the receptacleis fitted with a removable cap or cover 0 for emptying and cleaningpurposes; this cover has a suitable handle D to facilitate itsmanipulation. The cover C is held in position by a strap E which issecured at one end, as at e, to the bottom of the receptacle and passesthrough the handle D to prevent it from slipping 0E and is apertured atits free end to engage a buckle f on a strap section 13 fastened to thetop of the receptacle to hold the cover C firmly in its place on thebody of the receptacle.

At a position preferably in the center of the top of the receptacle A isa circular inlet opening 9 of suitable size to suit requirements. Thiscircular opening is surrounded by a projecting lip or flange G made ofthe same or similar material as the body of the receptacle A and ofproper length and diameter to form an effective support and closefitting connection for a flexible chute H. The inlet opening is formedin the upper forward side of the receptacle and the flange inclinedupwardly and forwardly at an oblique angle therefrom. On one side ofthis lip or flange G is mounted in a strong and substantial manner abutton or stud I, and on the opposite side of the center of the rearportion of the flange is an elongated eyelet or guide loop J at aposition of about 45 01? the center line of receptacle A. The purpose ofthe stud I and eyelet J is to retain the flexible chute H in positionagainst its tendency to pull off under strain and is part of thefastenings working in conjunction with straps and buckles hereinafterexplained.

Substantially fastened in the body of the receptacle A and placed 011aline in rear of the inlet opening is a series of eyelets K for thepurpose of suspending or supporting the receptacle A from thewhiffletree bar W or other suitable portion or portions of the vehicleby means of suspension chains, straps, or other suitablesuspendingdevice K, which carry the entire weight of the receptacle A. The actualposition of these eyelets K is gaged so that when the receptacle A issuspended in position the flexible chute H is partially suspended fromthe vehicle, thus relieving the animal of a portion of the weight ofsaid chute. The said chains, straps, support-s, or suspension devices Kare made long enough to pass through staples or eyes W on thewhiffletree bar and return and hook on themselves "or the eyelets K forthe purpose of raising or low ering the receptacle A to adjustablysupport the receptacle, the ends of each chain being provided with snaphooks or catches K for such purpose.

The flexible chute H consists of a section of leather or other suitableflexible material, partially circular at its lower end to lapthree-quarters around the projecting lip G of the receptacle A and ofsufficient'length to reach therefrom to the breeching V of the harnesswhen'suspen'ded in position under the bar W. As shown, the flexiblechute H is made tapering on both sides, the wide end thereof beingtrimmed to suit the circular opening in the receptacle A and lappedaround the lip G of receptacle A, the upper or narrowend of the chuteextending to the breeching V and there fastened thereto in a curvedposition, thus causing the sides of the chute to curve upward in theform of a shallow trough to catch and retain all droppings and guide thesame to the opening of the receptacle A, thus insuring positivecollection of all deposits.

On the opposite sides of the lower end of the chute are straps O and 0,one adapted for engagement with a buckle O on the other, and in the sideto which the strap 0 is attached is a button or stud hole P. By means ofthis hole P the flexible chute H is adapted to be engaged with the studI and held in position on one side, then lapped around the lip G of thereceptacle A, and the strap 0 is then passed through the elongatedeyelet J and fastened to the buckle O on said strap 0, thus fasteningthe chute to said lip. A strap O is fastened centrally to the bottom ofthe lower end of the chute and is passed upwardly and rearwardly aroundthe body of the receptacle A, drawn tight, and fastened to a buckle R,on a strap sec tion R fastened on the top side of receptacle A, thusmaking a substantial fastening between the flexible chute H and thereceptacle A, such strap 0 serving to hold the chute from relativeupward movement.

The upper end of the chute is formed with a central button hole L toengage a button or stud L on the breeching V, and is provided withstraps L and L to engage buckles L" on straps L fastened to the sides ofthe breeching, thus securely and yet detachably securing the chute tothe harness. These fastenings retain the upper end of the chute inposition without throwing any part of the weight of the receptacleitself on the animal, the weight of the receptacle and part of theweight of the chute being sustained by the hangers K, so that but a partof the weight of the chute alone will be supported by the animal.

The object of employing a flexible chute and flexible suspension devicesis to yieldingly retain the receptacle A in the desired position withsuflicient freedom of movement to take care of the play (or lost motion)inthe harness while changing from hauling to backing and vice versa, andto prevent any strain on the receptacle A or the fastenings for thesame. The flexible chute H is long enough so that the receptacle A willhang in a posit-ion below the whiffletree bar N and far enough back soas not to interfere with the legs or heels of the animal while running,or walking, hauling or backing. By this means of fastening it does notmatter what position the animals are in while attached to the vehicle,as the receptacle A being hung from the whiflietree bar W will alwaysremain in the desired position. The purpose of making the flexible chuteH and the receptacle A easily detachable one from the other, and bothfrom their other fastenings, is to facilitate cleaning and the replacingof the same after this operation.

The partially circular form of the receptacle A is preferable because ofthere being no corners and when the same is enameled a perfectly smoothinterior is provided which may be easily kept clean and freely washedwith water without injury. The droppings falling into the chute slidedown the same by gravity into the receptacle. The handle D, it will beunderstood, allows the detached receptacle to be conveniently handledand carried.

It will be seen that my invention provides a receptacle which issupported or suspended in such a manner that it is out of the reach ofthe animals legs or heels, and attached to the vehicle in such a mannerwith movable supports as'to avoid any strain being placed on any partof, it during hauling,backing or standing still, thus fulfilling everyrequirement for which it is intended, without being subject to damage;

My invention is neat and capable of being made ornamental for finecarriages; it is sanitary and its contents are concealed from" View,thus making it unobjectionable to the eye. The long chute and the depthof the receptacle is such that it will in no way interfere with the useof the tail of the animal.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1.A device of the character described, comprising a horizontal receptacleopen at one end and provided with a central inlet having an upwardly andforwardly projecting flange, a cover for closing the open end of thereceptacle, said cover being provided with a carrying handle, means forde tachably securing said cover to the receptacle, adjustable flexiblesuspension devices for suspending the receptacle horizontally below andfrom a transverse portion of the draft device of the vehicle, aninclined chute having a lower end of partially circular form to fitaround said flange, means for iii;

the chute above the flange, a fastening de' vice for securing the lowerend of the chute to the body of the receptacle to hold the chute fromupward movement, and devices for detachably connecting the upper end ofthe chute with the sides of the breeching of the harness.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a horizontalreceptacle open at one end and provided with a central inlet having anupwardly and forwardly projecting flange, a closure for the open end ofsaid receptacle, adjustable flexible suspension devices for suspendingthe receptacle horizontally from a portion of the draft device of thevehicle, a fastening device upon one side of said flange, a guide uponthe opposite side of the flange, an inclined chute having a lower end ofpartially circular form to fit around said flange, one of the freeportions of said chute end being adapted for engagement with saidfastening device and carrying a fastening strap having a buckle, a strapupon the other free edge of the end of the chute adapted to pass throughsaid guide and to engage the buckle of the firstnamed strap, a fasteningdevice connected with the front portion of the lower end of the chuteand adapted to be passed around and engaged with the body of thereceptacle to hold the chute from upward movement and disengagement fromthe flange, and devices for detachably connecting the upper end of thechute with the sides of the breech ing of the harness.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. HUNT. WVitnesses:

CHARLES G. KELLER, ELIZABETH L. PEEBLEs.

